Think you have an expensive car insurance policy? Don’t feel bad because many Warren consumers are in the same pinch. Big companies like Allstate, Progressive and Geico increase brand awareness with ads and consumers find it hard to ignore the flashy ads and do the work needed to find the best deal.
It’s a good habit to get comparison quotes once or twice a year because insurance prices change regularly. Just because you found the lowest rates two years ago you can probably find a better rate quote now. Forget anything you know (or think you know) about car insurance because you’re going to get a crash course in the proper way to save money, get proper coverage and the best rates.
If you have insurance now or need new coverage, you can follow these tips to get lower rates while maximizing coverage. Finding affordable coverage in Warren is quite easy. Rhode Island consumers just need to learn the proper methods to compare rates online.
There are a variety of methods you can shop for car insurance and some are more efficient than others. You could waste a few hours talking about coverages with local insurance agents in Warren, or you could use the web to achieve your goal.
Most car insurance companies belong to an insurance system where prospective buyers only type in their quote data once, and each participating company returns a rated price based on that data. This saves time by eliminating quote forms for each company you want a rate for. To compare rates using this form now click here (opens in new window).
The only downside to using this type of form is that consumers can’t choose the insurers to receive prices from. So if you prefer to pick from a list of companies to compare, we put together a list of car insurance companies in Rhode Island. Click to view list.
Whichever method you choose, make sure you are using nearly identical coverage limits and deductibles for each quote you get. If the quotes have different values for each quote it will be very difficult to make an equal comparison in Warren.
These ten discounts can lower your car insurance quotes
Auto insurance companies do not list every disount available in an easy-to-find place, so below is a list both well-publicized as well as some of the hidden credits available to lower your premiums when you .
- Student in College – Youth drivers who live away from home at college and do not have access to a covered vehicle could get you a discount.
- Student Discount for Driver Training – Reduce the cost of insurance for teen drivers by having them take driver’s ed class if it’s offered in school.
- Air Bag Discount – Factory options such as air bags and/or automatic seat belt systems may earn rate discounts of 25 to 30%.
- Good Student – Maintaining excellent grades could provide a savings of up to 20% or more. The good student discount can last until age 25.
- Early Switch Discount – Some car insurance companies give discounts for switching policies prior to the expiration date on your current policy. This can save 10% or more.
- Savings for New Vehicles – Adding a new car to your policy can be considerably cheaper due to better safety requirements for new vehicles.
- Military Rewards – Having a deployed family member could be rewarded with lower premium rates.
- Low Mileage Discounts – Keeping the miles down could qualify for discounted prices on garaged vehicles.
- Discounts for Government Workers – Being employed by or retired from a federal job could qualify for a slight premium decrease depending on your company.
- Club Memberships – Belonging to qualifying employment or professional organizations may earn a discount on your bill.
Discounts reduce rates, but you should keep in mind that most discount credits are not given to all coverage premiums. Some only apply to the cost of specific coverages such as liability, collision or medical payments. So when it seems like having all the discounts means you get insurance for free, you’re out of luck.
For a list of insurers that have a full spectrum of discounts in Warren, click here to view.
Different people need different car insurance coverages
When choosing proper insurance coverage, there really is no one size fits all plan. Your needs are not the same as everyone else’s so your insurance needs to address that. For instance, these questions might point out whether you might need an agent’s assistance.
- Should I buy more coverage than the required Rhode Island minimum liability coverage?
- What companies insure drivers after a DUI or DWI?
- Does my policy cover my teen driver if they drive my company car?
- Should I file a claim if it’s only slightly more than my deductible?
- Should I buy additional glass protection?
- Am I covered if I crash into my own garage door?
- What is covered by UM/UIM coverage?
- What if I total my vehicle and owe more than it’s worth?
- Is rental equipment covered for theft or damage?
- Is my babysitter covered when using my vehicle?
If it’s difficult to answer those questions, then you may want to think about talking to an agent. If you want to speak to an agent in your area, complete this form or click here for a list of car insurance companies in your area. It’s fast, doesn’t cost anything and may give you better protection.
Parts of your car insurance policy
Understanding the coverages of your policy can be of help when determining the best coverages for your vehicles. Policy terminology can be ambiguous and nobody wants to actually read their policy. Shown next are typical coverages available from car insurance companies.
Comprehensive coverage (or Other than Collision) – This covers damage caused by mother nature, theft, vandalism and other events. You need to pay your deductible first then the remaining damage will be covered by your comprehensive coverage.
Comprehensive coverage protects against things like falling objects, hitting a deer, damage from flooding, a tree branch falling on your vehicle and fire damage. The maximum payout a car insurance company will pay at claim time is the market value of your vehicle, so if it’s not worth much more than your deductible consider removing comprehensive coverage.
Coverage for liability – Liability coverage will cover damage or injury you incur to other’s property or people that is your fault. This coverage protects you from legal claims by others, and doesn’t cover your injuries or vehicle damage.
Split limit liability has three limits of coverage: bodily injury for each person injured, bodily injury for the entire accident and a property damage limit. You might see liability limits of 50/100/50 which stand for $50,000 in coverage for each person’s injuries, $100,000 for the entire accident, and property damage coverage for $50,000.
Liability insurance covers things like loss of income, bail bonds and emergency aid. How much liability coverage do you need? That is a decision to put some thought into, but buy as high a limit as you can afford. Rhode Island state law requires minimum liability limits of 25,000/50,000/25,000 but drivers should carry more coverage.
Uninsured Motorist or Underinsured Motorist insurance – This coverage gives you protection from other motorists when they are uninsured or don’t have enough coverage. Covered losses include injuries to you and your family and also any damage incurred to your vehicle.
Since a lot of drivers only carry the minimum required liability limits (which is 25/50/25), it only takes a small accident to exceed their coverage. This is the reason having UM/UIM coverage is a good idea.
Insurance for medical payments – Med pay and PIP coverage provide coverage for expenses for things like pain medications, doctor visits, nursing services and chiropractic care. They are used to cover expenses not covered by your health insurance program or if you are not covered by health insurance. Medical payments and PIP cover not only the driver but also the vehicle occupants and also covers any family member struck as a pedestrian. Personal injury protection coverage is only offered in select states and may carry a deductible
Collision coverages – Collision coverage pays to fix your vehicle from damage resulting from colliding with an object or car. You will need to pay your deductible then your collision coverage will kick in.
Collision insurance covers things like colliding with a tree, sustaining damage from a pot hole, hitting a mailbox, sideswiping another vehicle and driving through your garage door. Collision is rather expensive coverage, so consider removing coverage from vehicles that are 8 years or older. You can also raise the deductible to bring the cost down.
More detailed Rhode Island car insurance information is located at the Rhode Island Division of Insurance Regulation website. Rhode Island drivers can report car insurance fraud, learn about insurance regulations, and find a variety of consumer forms.
Other related articles: